Motor controlled retractable emc protection

ABSTRACT

A system and method for controlling an EMC protection apparatus in a removable component. The removable component is inserted into an end product. As a result of the insertion power is applied to the EMC protection apparatus. A determination is made as to whether a power good signal is detected within the removable component. In response to a power good signal, an EMC protection device is rotated from a retracted state to an engaged state such that the EMC protection device is placed over an enclosure opening in the removable component forming an EMC seal. Full functionality of the removable component can be delayed until such time as the rotation is completed.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to electromagnetic compatibilityprotection, and more specifically, to a motor controlled retractable EMCprotection apparatus for a removeable component.

For enclosures such as servers, IO drawers, and processor drawers thatare densely packed and have removable components such as power suppliesand IO cards it is difficult to add EMI/EMC protection due to the spacerestrictions on either the removable component or the enclosure.Further, due to the tight space there is a high risk of damaging theprotection during plug in or plug out events.

SUMMARY

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a retractableelectromagnetic compatibility (EMC) protection apparatus for a removablecomponent is disclosed. The EMC protection apparatus includes a motormounting bracket attached to a side of the removable component and arotational motor coupled to the motor mounting bracket. A motor swingarm is connected to the rotational motor. The motor swing arm is alsoconnected to a protection mounting bracket. An EMC protection device ismounted on to the protection mounting bracket. The EMC protection deviceis configured to be rotated in and out of an enclosure opening of theremovable component in response to rotation of the rotational motor toform an EMC seal on the removable component.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a method forcontrolling an EMC protection apparatus in a removable component isdisclosed. The removable component is inserted into an end product. As aresult of the insertion power is applied to the EMC protectionapparatus. A determination is made as to whether there is good power tothe EMC protection apparatus. In response to a power good signal, an EMCprotection device is rotated from a retracted state to an engaged statesuch that the EMC protection device is placed over an enclosure openingin the removable component forming an EMC seal. In some embodiments,full functionality of the removable component is delayed until such timeas the rotation is completed. In some embodiments, the method detectswhen power has been removed from the EMC protection apparatus. Inresponse to this detection the full functionality of the removablecomponent is stopped and the EMC protection device rotates back to theretracted state. The above summary is not intended to describe eachillustrated embodiment or every implementation of the presentdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included in the present application are incorporated into,and form part of, the specification. They illustrate embodiments of thepresent disclosure and, along with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the disclosure. The drawings are only illustrative ofcertain embodiments and do not limit the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a removable component accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an orthogonal view of the rear of the EMC protection apparatusaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the EMC protection apparatus in the retractedstate according to embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the EMC protection apparatus in the engagedstate according to embodiments.

FIG. 5 is an orthogonal view of the EMC protection apparatus in theengaged state according to embodiments. according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a process for controlling aremovable component having the EMC protection apparatus according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications andalternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of examplein the drawings and will be described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that the intention is not to limit the disclosureto the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intentionis to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to electromagneticcompatibility protection, more particular aspects relate to a motorcontrolled retractable EMC protection apparatus for removeablecomponents. While the present disclosure is not necessarily limited tosuch applications, various aspects of the disclosure may be appreciatedthrough a discussion of various examples using this context.

Enclosures such as servers IO draws, processor drawers, etc. are oftendensely packed with components. Some of these components are removablecomponents, such as power supplies or IO cards. Due to spacerestrictions on either the removable component or the enclosure, it canbe difficult to add electromagnetic interference (EMI)/electromagneticcompatibility (EMC) protection (e.g., gaskets, EMI springs, electricalnoise absorbers) to the system. Often, if EMC protection is added intight areas, problems such as shearing of a gasket during a plug/unplugevent or high plug force can occur. However, if EMC protection is notused, there is a high potential for radiated emissions leakage, lack ofimmunity, and/or high ESD susceptibility through the unprotected slot.As speeds increase and higher frequency content is introduced, there ishigher chance that this could lead to the associated product failing EMCcertification tests.

The present disclosure provides a solution to the above identifiedissues related to the removable components and the needed EMI/EMCprotection. The present disclosure provides an apparatus wherein EMCgaskets and/or springs are retracted into a removable component on oneor more sides that provides a low plug force and prevents shearingduring a plug/unplug event. The apparatus contains a motor (e.g., servomotor) that controls position of the EMC gaskets and/or springs. Whenthere is no power to the motor, the EMC gaskets and/or springs areretracted into the removable component. When power is applied to themotor, the EMC gaskets and/or springs are rotated to extend outside theremovable component and wipe against an adjacent surface creating an EMCseal between the two surfaces to minimize radiated emissions leakage,increase immunity, and/or lower ESD susceptibility. In some embodimentsthe apparatus can be implanted on the removable component or on theenclosure side where the removable component inserts into the enclosure.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a removable component 100 according toembodiments of the present disclosure. In FIG. 1 the removable component100 is illustrated as a power supply unit (PSU). However, it could beany other type of removable component such as an input/output card, fanassembly, etc. Removable component 100 includes an EMC protectionapparatus 105 that is located on the bottom of the removeable component100. However, the EMC protection apparatus 105 can be located on otherlocations in the removable component 100. Further, in some embodiments,there can be multiple instances of the EMC protection apparatus 105located on different sides of the removable component. In someembodiments, the EMC protection apparatus 105 can be located in the endproduct that the removable component 100 is inserted into, such as aserver rack or other enclosure. However, for purposes of thisdisclosure, the EMC protection apparatus 105 will be discussed as beinginside the removable component 100.

FIG. 2 is a orthogonal view of the EMC protection apparatus 105according to embodiments. In FIG. 2 the EMC protection apparatus 105 isillustrated in its retracted state that is when there is no power beingdelivered to the apparatus 105. FIG. 3 is a side view of the EMCprotection apparatus in the retracted state according to embodiments.FIG. 4 is a side view of the EMC protection apparatus in the engagedstate according to embodiments. FIG. 5 is an orthogonal view of the EMCprotection apparatus in the engaged state according to embodiments. TheEMC protection apparatus 105 includes a motor mounting bracket 205,rotational motor 210, motor swing arm 215, protection device mountingbracket 217, and EMC protection device 220.

The motor mounting bracket 205 is used to attach the EMC protectionapparatus 105 to removable component 100 as well as lifting therotational motor 210 off the enclosure wall of removable component 100to allow room for a swinging action when power is applied.

The rotational motor 210 (e.g., servo motor) is a component of the EMCprotection apparatus that is configured to control the position of themotor swing arm 215. The rotational motor 210 moves the motor swing armfrom a rest position (illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 ) to an engagedposition (illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The rotational motor can be,for example, a servo motor that moves the motor swing arm in response topower being applied. However, any other device that can rotate the motorswing arm in response to an applied power can be used. The rotationalmotor increases the effectiveness of a wiping action that is performedbetween EMC protection device 220 and an adjacent conductive surfaceduring activation and sealing. In contrast a linear motor cannot createthe same wiping action and as such inhibits and/or prevents an effectiveEMC seal. This wiping action between the EMI gasket on the EMCprotection device and the mating metal surface helps to cut through anyanti-fingerprint coatings or oxidation on the metal surface thatprevents making a good, low-resistance electrical connection.

Motor swing arm 215 is the attachment between rotational motor 210 andprotection device mounting bracket 217 and travels along rotation path430 as shown in FIG. 4 . The protection device mounting bracket 217 iswhere the EMC protection device 220 is mounted and runs the full lengthof enclosure opening 225.

The EMC protection device 220 lowers when power is applied to rotationalmotor 210 to provide adequate sealing on all sides of enclosure opening225 and stick out far enough to compress against another surface (eitherthe end product or a second removable component 100) and seal off anyopenings for good EMC containment. An important feature of this designis that EMC protection device 220 rotates into place simulating the samewiping action against a neighboring surface that would be experiencedwhen a standard removable component with a fixed gasket is inserted intoan end product (adequate wiping has been proven to show increasedperformance in EMC gaskets). This wiping action between an EMI gasketthat is a component of the EMC protection device 220 and the matingmetal surface helps to cut through any anti-fingerprint coatings oroxidation on the metal surface that prevent making a good,low-resistance electrical connection. The EMC protection device 220seals all sides of enclosure opening 225 when engaged to ensure thatthere are no leakage paths. The EMC protection device 220 is sized andplaced such that when it is inserted into the enclosure opening 225 thegasket is as close to the external surface of the removable component100 as is possible. This is obtained by compressing the EMC protectiondevice 220 into the enclosure opening 225 and contacting a componentoutside of the removeable component. In some embodiments thiscompression results in the EMC protection device 220 being compressedbetween 30 and 70 percent of its original height. (i.e., height prior toinsertion). In some embodiments the EMC protection device 220 has a bellor other curved shape such that the curve extends towards or into theenclosure opening. However, any shape can be used for the EMC protectiondevice so long as it can completely seal the enclosure opening. By notengaging the EMC protection device 220 prior to the insertion of theremovable component 100 into the end product, a lower plug force isobtained than would be possible using traditional methods.

The enclosure opening 225 is an intentional opening left in theenclosure of the removable component 100 that should extend the desiredlength for which EMC containment is desired based on the frequenciespresent in the end product. In some embodiments, EMC containment willneed to be present on all sides of the removable component 100. In thesecases, the EMC protection apparatus 105 can be implemented on all sidesof removable component 100 where there is not EMC containment alreadypresent when the removable component is inserted into the end product.For example, if a cubby hole for a PSU has gaskets on the left and rightsides of the end product, then the EMC protection apparatus 105 may onlyneed to be implemented on the top and bottom surfaces of the PSU. Inanother example, an IO cassette may need the EMC protection apparatus105 implemented on three sides because the fourth side is sealed by anEMC protection apparatus of another neighboring IO cassette.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a process 600 for controlling aremovable component having the EMC protection apparatus 105 of thepresent disclosure according to various embodiments. The EMC protectionapparatus can include circuitry that enables the implementation ofprocess 600. For example, the circuitry can be implemented by an ASICthat is coupled to the protection apparatus 100, or through a processingsystem onboard the removable component. The process begins with a userinserting the removable component 100 into an end product. This isillustrated at step 610. For example, the user could be inserting apower supply into a server computer. However, the user could beinserting any other removable component such as a fan, an IO card, etc.into any end product.

As a result of the insertion into the end product, power is applied tothe removable component 100. In some embodiments, power can be appliedthrough a connector on the end product when the removable component 100is inserted. Alternatively, power can be applied by the user plugging apower cable into the removable component 100 after it is plugged intothe end product.

The process then determines if it can detect a power good signal for thepower at the rotational motor 210. This is illustrated at step 615. If apower good signal is detected at the rotational motor 210, the process600 moves to step 620 where the rotational motor 210 activates to engagethe EMC protection device 220 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 .

At this point, full functionality of the removable component has notbeen activated. For example, the input/output signals of a PCI card arenot yet being transmitted and received. The process delays theactivation of the removable component 100 to allow the EMC protectiondevice 220 to wipe and adjacent surface and fully engage. This isillustrated at step 625. Following the wiping, full function of theremovable component is enabled. This is illustrated at step 630.

The process 600 monitors the system to determine if power has beendisabled to the removeable component. This is illustrated at step 635.As long as there is power to the removable component the process 600continues to monitor the power. However, if the power is disconnected,such as through a hot disconnect event or removal of a power cable, theprocess proceeds to disable the full functionality of the removablecomponent. This is illustrated at step 640. It should be noted that theremovable component can still be functioning despite the removal of theexternal power as it can include onboard back-up power. In someembodiments, power to the rotational motor 210 comes from the endproduct such that the rotational motor 210 continues to operate even ifthere are functionality problems with removable component 100. In someembodiments, power to the motor and power for functionality of theremovable component can come from the same source and be cutsimultaneously when power loss occurs at step 635. In this embodiment,there is stored voltage in either a capacitor or battery connected tothe rotational motor so that sufficient power is available to rotate themotor back to the disengaged position.

In response to the removal of the external power the EMC protectiondevice 220 is disengaged. This is illustrated at step 645. The EMCprotection device 220 is disengaged by rotating the rotational motor 210such that the EMC protection device is retracted into the inside of theenclosure of the removable component. This places the EMC protectiondevice in a position such as that illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 .

Once the EMC protection device 220 is retracted the removable component100 can then be removed from the end product. This is illustrated atstep 650. With the EMC protection device 220 retracted, the removablecomponent 100 can be removed with low plug force and no worry ofshearing the gasket of the EMC protection device 220.

If at step 615 the process 600 determined that a power good signal wasnot detected for the rotational motor 210, the process proceeds to warnthe user of this condition. This is illustrated at step 655. Thiswarning can be in the form of error messages in the log of the endproduct, a visual indicator (e.g., LED), an auditory indicator (e.g.,buzzer), etc. If there is no power good signal detected, the process 600keeps removable component in a not fully activated state. This isillustrated at step 660. For example, in this state, signals are nottransmitted or received, output power pins are not enabled, etc.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosurehave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A retractable electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)protection apparatus for a removable component comprising: a motormounting bracket attached to a side of the removable component, arotational motor coupled to the motor mounting bracket; a motor swingarm connected to the rotational motor; a protection mounting bracketcoupled to the motor swing arm; and an EMC protection device coupled tothe protection mounting bracket, wherein the EMC protection device isconfigured to be rotated in and out of an enclosure opening of theremovable component in response to rotation of the rotational motor. 2.The EMC protection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the EMC protectiondevice is in a retracted state when power is absent from the EMCprotection apparatus.
 3. The EMC protection apparatus of claim 2 whereinthe rotational motor is configured to rotate the EMC protection devicefrom an engaged state to the retracted state in response to a removal ofpower from the EMC protection apparatus.
 4. The EMC protection apparatusof claim 1 wherein the EMC protection device is in an engaged state whenpower is present at the EMC protection apparatus.
 5. The EMC protectionapparatus of claim 4 wherein the rotational motor is configured torotate the EMC protection device from a retracted state to the engagedstate in response to an application of power to the EMC protectionapparatus.
 6. The EMC protection apparatus of claim 1 wherein the EMCprotection device is configured to wipe against a portion of theenclosure opening during rotation.
 7. The EMC protection apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the EMC protection device is an EMC gasket.
 8. The EMCprotection apparatus of claim 7 wherein the EMC gasket is bell shaped.9. The EMC protection apparatus of claim 7 wherein the EMC gasket isconfigured to compressed between 30% and 70% of an original height ofthe EMC gasket.
 10. The EMC protection apparatus of claim 1 wherein theEMC protection device is an EMC spring.
 11. The EMC protection apparatusof claim 1 wherein the retractable EMC protection device is anelectrical noise absorber.
 12. A method for controlling an EMCprotection apparatus in a removable component, comprising: inserting theremovable component into an end product; applying power to the EMCprotection apparatus; determining the presence of a power good signal atthe EMC protection apparatus; and in response to a power good signal,rotating an EMC protection device on the EMC protection apparatus from aretracted state to an engaged state, wherein the engaged state placesthe EMC protection device over an enclosure opening in the removablecomponent.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: preventingfull functionality of the removable component until completion of therotating.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein rotating causes the EMCprotection device to wipe against a portion of the enclosure opening.15. The method of claim 12 further comprising: disconnecting power fromthe removable component; and rotating the EMC protection device from theengaged state to the retracted state.
 16. The method of claim 15 furthercomprising: in response to disconnecting power, disabling fullfunctionality of the removable component.
 17. The method of claim 15further comprising: generating an alert that power has been disconnectedfrom the removable component.
 18. The method of claim 12 wherein powerfor the EMC protection apparatus comes directly from the end product.19. A computer readable storage medium having computer executableinstructions that when executed cause an EMC protection apparatus withina removable component to: determine the presence of a power good signalat the EMC protection apparatus; in response to a power good signal,rotate an EMC protection device on the EMC protection apparatus from aretracted state to an engaged state, wherein the engaged state placesthe EMC protection device over an enclosure opening in the removablecomponent; and preventing full functionality of the removable componentuntil completion of the rotating.
 20. The computer readable storagemedium of claim 19 further comprising instructions to: monitor a powerstatus at the EMC protection apparatus; determine that power has beendisconnected from the EMC protection apparatus; disable fullfunctionality of the removable component in response to thedisconnection; and generate an alert in response to the disconnection.